Sonus faber
Sonetto G2: what came down from Suprema
The second-generation Sonetto is the first Sonus faber collection built with technology from the Suprema flagship. Here is what changed, model by model.
Suprema is Sonus faber’s flagship, a four-column system of two main towers and two subwoofers that few people will ever own. Its use to everyone else is what it taught the company. Sonetto G2 is the first collection to be designed with that knowledge, and it sits at a price many more people can consider.
What came from Suprema
The Camelia midrange. The midrange driver in Sonetto G2 builds on the one developed for Suprema. Its white paper cone is shaped like the flower it is named for, which breaks up the resonances a plain cone has, and an aluminum phase plug at its center keeps the sound even as you move off axis. This is the driver that carries voices, and it is where most of the improvement over the first Sonetto is heard.
The cork chamber. In the Sonetto V and VIII, the midrange sits in its own sealed chamber lined with cork, as it does in Suprema. Cork absorbs the energy coming off the back of the driver instead of sending it back through the cone. Sonus faber credits it with a clearer, more natural midrange.
Together Sonus faber calls this “the Voice of Sonus faber”: the same tonal character at every level of the range.
What else is new
- A concrete base under every floorstander and stand-mount, and under the stand itself. It adds mass low down and gives the cabinet something inert to stand on.
- A redesigned port. On the Sonetto V and VIII the port fires down onto the concrete base, so the loudspeaker behaves the same on any floor and is less fussy about the wall behind it.
- Intono, in the Sonetto I and II: a small internal structure between the port and the main chamber that takes out unwanted resonances in the smaller cabinets.
- Veneer laid at 45 degrees, as on the Homage models, and a leather surround on the baffle.
- A phase-coherent crossover and bi-wire terminals behind a round cover.
The seven models
| Model | Type | Bass extends to | Recommended power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonetto I G2 | Stand-mount | 52 Hz | 30 to 150 W | $2,500 a pair |
| Sonetto II G2 | Stand-mount | 42 Hz | 30 to 200 W | $3,500 a pair |
| Sonetto III G2 | Floorstanding, 2.5-way | 38 Hz | 50 to 280 W | $5,000 a pair |
| Sonetto V G2 | Floorstanding, three-way | 35 Hz | 50 to 320 W | $7,000 a pair |
| Sonetto VIII G2 | Floorstanding, three-way | 33 Hz | 50 to 400 W | $9,000 a pair |
| Sonetto Center G2 | Center channel | 45 Hz | 50 to 300 W | $3,000 each |
| Sonetto Wall G2 | On-wall | 60 Hz | 30 to 200 W | $1,750 each |
All are offered in walnut, wenge or black. The matching stands for the Sonetto I and II are $1,000 a pair.
The heart of the collection: the Sonetto V and VIII
These are the Sonettos with the Camelia midrange in its own cork chamber, and the midrange is the reason to choose them. It is articulate, fluid and natural, and voices come through clear, detailed and distinct. Around it the sound is composed and dynamic, with tight, punchy bass and a wide, three-dimensional stage.
The Sonetto V G2 sounds bigger than it looks. It is powerful and room-filling, and it suits most living rooms.
The Sonetto VIII G2 has the same midrange and a great deal more behind it. It is a large loudspeaker with two eight-inch woofers, and it fills a big room with real power and authority. At its price, nothing in our store does that better.
The smaller Sonettos
The Sonetto I, II and III share the family sound: natural and smooth, with an open, clear midrange. The Sonetto II has a full-bodied balance and punchy bass for a stand-mount, and likes a foot and a half or more behind it. The Sonetto III is for the person who wants a floorstander’s bass and no stands, in a room that is not large.
Hearing them
Tell us which Sonetto you are considering and what will drive it, and we will set that system up for your visit. Call (503) 222-2599 or write to sales@pearlaudio.com.
See also: What amplifier suits a Sonus faber
Tell us which Sonus faber you are considering and what will drive it, and we will set that system up for your visit. Call (503) 222-2599 or email sales@pearlaudio.com.